The holidaymaker looking for a tan certainly has their pick of warm-weather destinations, and the traveller looking for a hiking adventure can easily find a destination offering plenty of cool experiences, but what about the reader? Whether you’re looking to catch a production at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London or wander among the storied streets of the French Quarter in New Orleans, this is the only guide you’ll need to plan your bookish adventures.
Exploring the world through books is an adventure in and of itself, but there are so many great cities steeped in rich literary tradition just waiting to be explored. So pack some paperbacks for the journey and get ready to jump into an unforgettable holiday – bookworm style.
Steeped in literary tradition
London, England
Known as an epicentre of creativity, it’s no surprise that London is one of the most prominent literary cities in the world. From classic authors like Charles Dickens to present-day writers like Zadie Smith, London has a longstanding artistic tradition. Steeped in poetic history, London is a dream holiday destination for every wordsmith.
Whether you’re looking to catch a production at Shakespeare’s Globe or to don your deerstalker at the Sherlock Holmes Museum, there’s no shortage of great literary spots to put on your bucket list. And, while you’re here, why not see how many famous book character statues you can find scattered across the Greater London Area?
The Sherlock Holmes Museum in London at 221b Baker Street
Justin Vogt
Bookish Bucket List:
Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre
21 New Globe Walk, SE1 9DT
Not just for Shakespeare anymore – the Globe offers productions of classic and contemporary plays with standing tickets starting at just £5.
Daunt Books Marylebone
84 Marylebone High Street, W1U 4QR
One of the most famous (and beautiful) bookshops in London offering a wide selection of titles with a specific focus on travel.
Cecil Court
Cecil Court, the West End
A charming and picturesque alley, Cecil Court offers a plethora of unique bookshops that will transport you to the Victorian era.
The Sherlock Holmes Museum
221b Baker Street, NW1 6XE
The world’s first and most famous museum dedicated to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s beloved character – while you’re here, check out the Sherlock Holmes statue located outside of Baker Street Underground Station.
Poets’ Corner in Westminster Abbey
20 Dean’s Yard, SW1P 3PA
The must-see literary pilgrimage where over 100 famous writers are memorialised.
Creative revolution
Paris, France
It’s no wonder that Paris is among some of the best literary destinations in the world – a picturesque hub for creativity, the city has a long history of hosting intellectuals and inspiring great works of art. It’s been home to many famous writers from French names like Victor Hugo to American sojourners like Ernest Hemingway, and it’s a must-see for any literary explorer.
So grab a croissant and step into the rich literary tradition of the city. Maybe you want to visit one of Paris’ many historic cafés where authors like Honoré de Balzac once frequented and soak up some of the lingering creativity in the air, or maybe you’d prefer to venture to one of Paris’ many beautiful bookshops and grab a souvenir to remember your literary adventures. Whatever path you choose, you’ll be walking in the footsteps of some of the world’s most prominent writers.
Shakespeare and Company bookshop in Paris
Deniz Denmirci
Bookish Bucket List:
Shakespeare & Company
27 Rue de la Bûcherie
Opened in 1951, this English-language bookshop is one of Paris’ most famous literary destinations – writers even used to sleep between the shelves.
Père Lachaise Cemetery
16 Rue du Repos
The largest cemetery in Paris and the final resting place of several writers such as Oscar Wilde and Honoré de Balzac.
The Bouquinistes on the Seine River
Les quais de la Seine
Antique and secondhand booksellers set up along the beautiful Seine; these merchants even have Unesco status.
Le Procope
13 Rue de l’Ancienne Comédie
One of the most famous (and oldest) cafés in Paris that was frequented by a plethora of writers and intellectuals like Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Paul Verlaine.
Maison de Victor Hugo
6 Place des Vosges
A writer’s house and museum built in the house that Victor Hugo himself lived in between 1832 and 1848 – it’s home to several collections of his personal effects and a heritage library.
Magical inspiration
Edinburgh, Scotland
The home of many prominent writers from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to J.K. Rowling, Edinburgh is a great literary destination. The city offers writers’ museums, historic author homes and a healthy dose of Harry Potter inspiration. It’s the perfect place for those literary travellers looking to walk in the footsteps of traditional and modern writers alike in a beautiful, historic setting.
Whether you’re looking to peruse the shelves in one of the city’s many charming bookshops, or learn about the lives of the great Scottish writers, there’s something bookish to explore in every corner of Edinburgh. The best part? When you’ve had your fill of wandering, you can settle in with a pint in one of the city’s countless historic literary pubs.
The city of Edinburgh from Calton Hill
Adam Wilson
Bookish Bucket List:
The National Library of Scotland
George IV Bridge
One of the largest libraries in the United Kingdom, it offers free permanent and temporary exhibitions and boasts a collection of over 24 million printed items.
Typewronger Books
4a Haddington Place
A not-for-profit bookshop, event space, small-press publisher and print studio, Typewronger has everything a bookish traveller needs in one charming location.
The Writer’s Museum
Lawnmarket, Lady Stair’s Close
Housed in Lady Stair’s 17th-century home, this museum focuses on the lives and works of great Scottish writers like Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson.
The Conan Doyle
71-72 York Place
Situated near Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s birthplace, this historic pub is a great place to unwind after a day of literary travels with a statue of Sherlock Holmes himself presiding nearby.
Author’s handprints
City Chambers, 253 High Street
Located in the quadrangle of the City Chambers, every Edinburgh Award Winner gets their golden handprints immortalised in stone.
Spooky meets literary
New Orleans, Louisiana
A far cry from the storied cobblestone streets of European literary destinations, New Orleans offers something a bit more… spectral. The city has been host to ghost stories, Voodoo traditions and occult whisperings since its early days, and that rich history can still be felt today from its above-ground cemeteries to its literary haunts.
New Orleans has served as inspiration for many authors over the years, most notably Tennesee Williams and Anne Rice. So, whether you’re looking to take home a first-place prize in the Tennessee Williams Literary Festival’s ‘Stella Shouting Contest’ or explore the Big Easy’s supernatural underbelly, there’s something for every literary traveller.
A French Quarter balcony in New Orleans
Sade F.
Bookish Bucket List:
Tennessee Williams’ house
1014 Dumaine Street
The French Quarter house Williams once lived in.
Blue Cypress Books
8123 Oak Street
A delightful indie bookstore with a selection of new and used books and, of course, an official shop cat.
Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival
Various locations
This festival takes place in March of every year in the French Quarter with a sub-festival for celebrating LGBTQ+ literary accomplishments, the Saints + Sinners Festival.
Hotel Monteleone and Carousel Bar
214 Royal Street
One of three US hotels denoted as an official literary landmark by the Friends of the Library Association, both the hotel and its bar were frequented by many famous authors over the years from William Faulkner to John Grisham.
Anne Rice’s former mansion
3711 Saint Charles Avenue
The beautiful Saint Charles mansion the author lived in from 1989 to 2004.
A smörgåsbord of stories
Stockholm, Sweden
Despite being a very safe city, Stockholm is the home of countless crimes… in books, that is. Authors have continuously been drawn to the city and inspired to write some of the most popular crime fiction in the modern literary canon. One such inspired author was Stieg Larsson, author of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
If crime fiction isn’t your thing, don’t worry – Stockholm has plenty to offer to the crime-adverse bookish traveller, too. Home of the Nobel Prize in Literature ceremony and banquet, as well as plenty of charming bookshops, Stockholm is a delightful literary destination.
Gamla Stan in Stockholm
Jon Flobrant
Bookish Bucket List:
Stockholm Concert Hall
Hǒtorget 8
Be in the room where it happens – every 10th of December, this is where the Nobel Prize in Literature award ceremony takes place. For the rest of the year, it’s open to the public for performances and guided tours.
The National Library
Humlegårdsgatan 26
With collections dating over 1000 years, the National Library holds every Swedish-published text and boasts over 18 million items to see during your visit.
Söderbokhandeln Hansson & Bruce
Götgatan 37
One of the city’s oldest and most charming bookshops – it also hosts seminars and discussions with famous authors.
Stadshuskällaren
Stockholms Stadshus, Hantverkargatan 1
Located in the basement of City Hall, this restaurant has served every Nobel Prize Banquet meal since 1922 – now you can say you’ve eaten the same meal that your literary heroes have.
The Strindberg Museum
Drottninggatan 85
The museum dedicated to exploring the life of author August Stringberg, including a replica of his Stockholm apartment.
